Quantitative phytochemical analyses of six hypericum species growing in slovenia.

The 74 samples of six HYPERICUM species (H. PERFOROTUM, H. HIRSUTUM, H. MACULATUM, H. TETRAPTERUM, H. MONTANUM, AND H. HUMIFUSUM) were collected around Slovenia and analysed for the content of ten substances (rutin, hyperoside, isoquercetin, quercitrin, quercetin, I3,II8-biapigenin, amentoflavone, pseudohypericin, hypericin, and hyperforin). The flowers were analysed separately from the green parts of the plants (herbs). The highest content of most of the substances was found in the flowers of H. PERFOROTUM. Among the herbal samples (without flowers), H. MONTANUM and H. HIRSUTUM contained significantly higher levels of amentoflavone (average 3-fold and 2.5-fold higher, respectively), than the herbs of H. PERFOROTUM. In the herbal part of H. PERFOROTUM the contents of all constituents strongly correlate with the contents of the same compound in flowers, except for the content of amentoflavone, which is independent in these two parts. Rutin and hyperoside are in positive correlation, and quercitrin is in negative correlation with the altitude of the growing site.

Production of hypericin, pseudohypericin and flavonoids in cell cultures of various Hypericum species and their chemotypes.

Suspension cultures were established from the shoots of sterile germinated seeds of various provenances of seven Hypericum (H.) species in a half strength modified Murashige and Skoog liquid medium. In most strains of H. perforatum (18 provenances) and all strains of H. maculatum (6 provenances) as well as in the cultures of H. tomentosum, H. bithynicum, H. glandulosum and H. balearicum, hypericin and pseudohypericin could be proven, however, in extremely varying amounts. In general, the pseudohypericin content was significantly higher than that of hypericin. The flavonoid patterns, comprising monomeric quercetin derivatives and dimeric apigenin derivatives, varied among strains over a wide range.

Production of Flavonoids in Cell Cultures of Crataegus monogyna.

Callus and suspension cultures were established from shoot tips of CRATAEGUS MONOGYNA L. in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and a modified MS medium. The flavonoid glycosides vitexin, vitexin 2- O-rhamnoside, rutin, and hyperoside, as well as the aglycones apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin, could be detected by TLC and HPLC in, however, varying amounts. Additionally, the contents of procyanidins were determined. The ratio between the contents of flavonoids and procyanidins is discussed.